"Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us."
Ephesians 3:20 (HCSB)
In this Vision Builders series, we have looked at reaching people with the gospel, building the church and now we look at caring for the community. When we meet the needs of people in our communities with practical help we are the hands and feet of Jesus, coming to them where they are. We demonstrate that God loves them and we have seen so many people come to church and begin a relationship with Him as a result.
What we have been doing & what we are focusing on next
We have three C3 Cares centres and we will launch two mobile centres to reach more people with practical help like food and clothing.
We have chaplains in hospitals, prisons, high schools, aged care and involved in Business Life Australia. We hope to train and release many more.
We have scripture teachers in schools and hope to place them in all the schools surrounding our C3 locations.
We support charities at home through Love Sydney and overseas with Child Action Lanka. We have partnerships with Lighthouse, Compassion and the Humpty Dumpty foundation and will continue to give and support in the future to see more lives transformed.
When you are part of Vision Builders, you are part of the team, resourcing people to use their gifts to help others even if you cannot go yourselves. Together we will change the world.
The heart of the vision (the why)
God’s nature is one of generosity. The Bible speaks of lives “overflowing” when God is involved. We are meant to have more than enough so that we can share it with others (Hebrews 13:16). When God provides in the Bible there is always more than was required in the moment: Manna, quail, water, fish and wine.
We need to think above and beyond to change the fabric and destiny of communities. Imagination can be underestimated but Ephesians 3:20 encourages us to dream big -nothing is too big for God to do. The effects of salt and light (which Jesus called us to be) are not small. We want C3 to be a place where people find what they need. This Vision Builders season choose to be part of the answer to problems the world is facing.
Jesus’ example (the how)
Like the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37, Jesus was moved by compassion for people regardless of their background (Matthew 9:36). He was willing and available to help and told His disciples that the harvest was ready and waiting if they decided to join in the work (Matthew 9:37). Jesus said that whatever we do for the sick, the hungry, the angry and desperate, we did for Him (Matthew 25:40 & Proverbs 14:31). The story of the Good Samaritan reminds us that we cannot preach the gospel to a person if their basic needs are not met -they are thinking about other things. Let’s demonstrate love for people in actions and not just words (1 John 3:17 & James 2:14-17).
Growth and change happen by deliberate action, generosity and vision. If we are to commit to helping others it is important that we ourselves are coming to church to be nourished and filled up: Then we have something to give. Come and learn “the unforced rhythms of grace” (Matthew 11:28-30 Message). Just like Abraham in Genesis 22:1-19 when we remember that everything belongs to and comes from God and we choose to withhold nothing from Him, He blesses and enlarges us (Proverbs 19:17 & 22:9). God does not ask for us to give to make us smaller. God is for us so dream big!
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT:
1. Who are some of the people in church that do “what you cannot” through their different gifts, that we as a team can enable and support?
2. Share any experiences you might have had when God provided more than enough or when you were in need and received practical help from C3 members.
3. How can we keep ourselves full and ready to give, preventing ourselves from running out spiritually?
Take some time as we approach the Vision Builders dinner to pray and
let God speak to us about how we can each get involved.
